Science, Technology, Research, Innovation, Development & Entrepreneurs: A ‘Panch-Tantra’ for Nation’s Progress
NewsBharati 01-Mar-2023 11:46:07 AM
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Science, Technology, Research, Innovation, Development & Entrepreneurs are all crucial components in a nation's progress. Each of these areas plays a unique role in driving economic growth, improving social welfare, and advancing a country's standing on the global stage. On the occasion of National Science Day, this article explores how these five factors can contribute to a nation's progress and why they are so important.
Science, technology and development are critical pillars of any country's growth. Their interdependence cannot be overlooked. Development is often defined as an improvement in people's lives, while science is the systematic study of the natural world through observation and experimentation. Therefore, a connection between science, technology and development is vital and in turn are critical for achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and human development.
The SDGs are a set of 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. We are just short to each the year 2030 and the targets still remain a challenge to be achieved in many states given the largeness and the diversity of our lovely nation. These goals are interconnected and address the global challenges we face, such as climate change, inequality, and poverty. The Government of India, with NITI AAYOG as the nodal agency to monitor, has adopted the SDGs and has taken several measures to achieve them.
One of the significant policies of the Government of India is the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The NAPCC aims to promote sustainable development and enhance the country's resilience to climate change. The plan has eight missions that focus on specific areas such as solar power, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, and water conservation. The missions are aligned with the SDGs and aim to achieve multiple goals simultaneously.
For example, the National Solar Mission which envisaged to generate 100 gigawatts of solar energy by 2022, which will reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels and contribute to combating climate change (SDG 13). At the same time, it will create employment opportunities and improve access to energy (SDG 7). Similarly, the National Water Mission aims to conserve water resources and improve water use efficiency while providing access to clean water (SDG 6). This will contribute to improving public health (SDG 3) and promoting sustainable agriculture (SDG 2).
The government of India launched the Digital India initiative, which aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
Under this initiative, the government aims to provide broadband connectivity to all villages, promote e-governance, and encourage the use of technology for development.
India being one of the largest and fastest-growing markets for digital consumers has about 813.94 million internet subscribers in 2022, second only to China. As per the reports, Indian mobile data users consume 8.3 gigabits (GB) of data each month on average, compared with 5.5 GB for mobile users in China and somewhere in the range of 8.0 to 8.5 GB in South Korea, an advanced digital economy. Indians have downloaded more than 12 billion apps in 2018. Mc Kinsey’s report on ‘Digital India: Technology to transform a connected nation’ analysed 17 mature and emerging economies and finds that India is digitising faster than any other country.
The Digital India initiative is aligned with several SDGs, such as SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The initiative has the potential to create new job opportunities, improve access to education and healthcare, and promote entrepreneurship.
Science and technology are important tools for innovation, and they play a vital role in promoting economic growth. They facilitate the development of new products, services, and processes, which can lead to increased productivity and efficiency. This, in turn, can lead to increased economic output and growth. For example, advances in technology have led to the development of new industries such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, and information technology. These industries have the potential to create new job opportunities, generate revenue, and boost economic growth.
One of the best examples to note the importance of S&T and Innovation is the way which our nation responded to the COVID19 pandemic. From sanitizers to masks to the vaccines, the leadership under Prime Minister Modi provided the robust ecosystem of S&T research and innovation. This game changing approach gave India a pivotal role in providing support including to the large and the lesser economies. This gave the impetus required to the Development.
It is important to have policies and strategies in place to promote innovation and research for enabling the S&T ecosystem to contribute to national development. Government Of India has envisioned policies for fostering innovation by investing in research and development, providing funding for Startups and small businesses, and supporting the development of infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. Sustained Government efforts resulted in increasing the number of recognized Startups from 452 in 2016 to 84,012 in 2022. This is a whopping increase of over 15,400% in the number of Startups that rose from 2016 to 2022. This creation of an enabling environment for innovation facilitated the growth of new industries and sectors.
India has leveraged science and technology to promote national development. The country has made significant investments in research and development and has established a number of institutions to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. The government has also launched initiatives such as Green Credit Programme amid concerns about global warming and climate change. In this year’s budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized upon the 'Green growth'.
Calling ‘Green Growth’ one of the seven priorities for the Government, the finance minister has called them the 'Saptarishi' who will guide the country through the 'Amrit Kaal' of the next 25 years. The expenditure budget has been increased by 33% in capital to Rs. 10 lakh crores (Rs. 10 trillion). Such approaches make the present day governance more robust, inclusive, and all-encompassing in nature.
Scientific approaches based on a strong research base also gave rise to the policy of MISHTI i.e. Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes, especially for the dwellers in the coastal areas. Such approaches will not only aid the sustainable development of coastal and estuarine areas but also improve the livelihoods of poor.
S&T supported research and innovation can drive economic growth, address societal challenges, and improve the quality of life for citizens. Government facilitates and promotes the innovation and research ecosystem by providing funding, supporting infrastructure development, and fostering an enabling environment for entrepreneurship. By investing in science and technology, countries can position themselves for long-term growth and prosperity.
Science, technology and development are critical pillars of any country's growth. Their interdependence cannot be overlooked. Development is often defined as an improvement in people's lives, while science is the systematic study of the natural world through observation and experimentation. Therefore, a connection between science, technology and development is vital and in turn are critical for achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and human development.
The SDGs are a set of 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. We are just short to each the year 2030 and the targets still remain a challenge to be achieved in many states given the largeness and the diversity of our lovely nation. These goals are interconnected and address the global challenges we face, such as climate change, inequality, and poverty. The Government of India, with NITI AAYOG as the nodal agency to monitor, has adopted the SDGs and has taken several measures to achieve them.
One of the significant policies of the Government of India is the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The NAPCC aims to promote sustainable development and enhance the country's resilience to climate change. The plan has eight missions that focus on specific areas such as solar power, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, and water conservation. The missions are aligned with the SDGs and aim to achieve multiple goals simultaneously.
For example, the National Solar Mission which envisaged to generate 100 gigawatts of solar energy by 2022, which will reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels and contribute to combating climate change (SDG 13). At the same time, it will create employment opportunities and improve access to energy (SDG 7). Similarly, the National Water Mission aims to conserve water resources and improve water use efficiency while providing access to clean water (SDG 6). This will contribute to improving public health (SDG 3) and promoting sustainable agriculture (SDG 2).
The government of India launched the Digital India initiative, which aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
Under this initiative, the government aims to provide broadband connectivity to all villages, promote e-governance, and encourage the use of technology for development.
India being one of the largest and fastest-growing markets for digital consumers has about 813.94 million internet subscribers in 2022, second only to China. As per the reports, Indian mobile data users consume 8.3 gigabits (GB) of data each month on average, compared with 5.5 GB for mobile users in China and somewhere in the range of 8.0 to 8.5 GB in South Korea, an advanced digital economy. Indians have downloaded more than 12 billion apps in 2018. Mc Kinsey’s report on ‘Digital India: Technology to transform a connected nation’ analysed 17 mature and emerging economies and finds that India is digitising faster than any other country.
The Digital India initiative is aligned with several SDGs, such as SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The initiative has the potential to create new job opportunities, improve access to education and healthcare, and promote entrepreneurship.
Science and technology are important tools for innovation, and they play a vital role in promoting economic growth. They facilitate the development of new products, services, and processes, which can lead to increased productivity and efficiency. This, in turn, can lead to increased economic output and growth. For example, advances in technology have led to the development of new industries such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, and information technology. These industries have the potential to create new job opportunities, generate revenue, and boost economic growth.
One of the best examples to note the importance of S&T and Innovation is the way which our nation responded to the COVID19 pandemic. From sanitizers to masks to the vaccines, the leadership under Prime Minister Modi provided the robust ecosystem of S&T research and innovation. This game changing approach gave India a pivotal role in providing support including to the large and the lesser economies. This gave the impetus required to the Development.
It is important to have policies and strategies in place to promote innovation and research for enabling the S&T ecosystem to contribute to national development. Government Of India has envisioned policies for fostering innovation by investing in research and development, providing funding for Startups and small businesses, and supporting the development of infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. Sustained Government efforts resulted in increasing the number of recognized Startups from 452 in 2016 to 84,012 in 2022. This is a whopping increase of over 15,400% in the number of Startups that rose from 2016 to 2022. This creation of an enabling environment for innovation facilitated the growth of new industries and sectors.
India has leveraged science and technology to promote national development. The country has made significant investments in research and development and has established a number of institutions to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. The government has also launched initiatives such as Green Credit Programme amid concerns about global warming and climate change. In this year’s budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized upon the 'Green growth'.
Calling ‘Green Growth’ one of the seven priorities for the Government, the finance minister has called them the 'Saptarishi' who will guide the country through the 'Amrit Kaal' of the next 25 years. The expenditure budget has been increased by 33% in capital to Rs. 10 lakh crores (Rs. 10 trillion). Such approaches make the present day governance more robust, inclusive, and all-encompassing in nature.
Scientific approaches based on a strong research base also gave rise to the policy of MISHTI i.e. Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes, especially for the dwellers in the coastal areas. Such approaches will not only aid the sustainable development of coastal and estuarine areas but also improve the livelihoods of poor.
S&T supported research and innovation can drive economic growth, address societal challenges, and improve the quality of life for citizens. Government facilitates and promotes the innovation and research ecosystem by providing funding, supporting infrastructure development, and fostering an enabling environment for entrepreneurship. By investing in science and technology, countries can position themselves for long-term growth and prosperity.
Saunand Somasi
Two decades (Twenty Two years) of award winning experience in Education industry with expertise Education Policy, Planning & Management, Program Development, General Administration, Research & Development along with establishment of IGNOU regional & study centres at remote locations. Chaired and Co-chaired sessions on International and National platforms with UNICEF, UNESCO, AICTE, Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), NCERT and KVS.